The Charlie Brown Tree | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Charlie Brown Tree | Previous Challenge Entry
By Rhonda Hensley
10/15/08
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“I know you are not going to put the Charlie Brown tree up again this year,” is an expected expression that my children echo as they enter the family room around Christmas. I have to admit, it has seen its usefulness; however, there is something about that tree that they have yet to understand. Yes, I know its branches are a bit tattered and it leans to the left or perhaps it’s to the right – all depending on where you are standing. It now has a warp sided shape that even with the most meticulous bending and shaping of the limbs it still looks like a matted head of hair. To anyone else’s eyes it is probably fit for the dumpster but to me it represents over two decades of childhood memories for my children.

Each December, my husband drags down the slim line evergreen from the attic along with a plastic container of masterpieces – also known as ornaments. We had the tradition when our children were younger to have a special meal or snack together and then we proceeded to decorate the tree. Every year, I bought a special ornament for each of my children or painted one myself. The ornaments would often represent something special about that child. Many of the ornaments are personalized with names and dates on them. We carefully unwrapped the ornaments and separated them into three piles representing the owner of those ornaments. Everyone got the opportunity to hang his or her own ornaments on the tree. I then finished the tree with garland and red plaid bows. It was always a fun time to listen to the children laugh, talk and even fuss over who got to hang their ornament on a certain limb of the tree.

My three children are now grown and no longer take delight in this family tradition. Thankfully, we now have two grandchildren who express the same exuberant joy in separating the ornaments into three piles representing their dad and their two aunts. And just as their dad has in the past, they proceed to hang them on the ragged looking evergreen in the corner of the family room. They love seeing their dad’s name written on ornaments of rocky horses, ball figures, teddy bears and hand-made ornaments from kindergarten.

This year, as usual, my husband will drag down the tired looking evergreen. I will spend petty time trying to spread the tattered limbs to represent those of a Christmas tree. We will then carefully unwrap an accumulation of over two decades of mementos. My grandchildren will giggle, laugh and fuss over where to hang the ornaments. My heart will swell with emotions as I reflect back on their dad and his sisters carrying out the same task. The grandchildren and I will stand back and admire the memorably decorated, droopy looking Charlie Brown tree. My grown children will again enter the house; express their disbelief in me putting up the same old tree but just maybe one day they will understand.

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